Registration Information

Under the Dental Hygienists Act of Nova Scotia, a person who wishes to work as a dental hygienist in Nova Scotia must be registered with the College of Dental Hygienists of Nova Scotia (CDHNS).

Registration with the CDHNS assures the public and employers that an individual has met the academic and other requirements to practice in the profession.

Persons who meet the requirements for registration will be issued a unique registration number and Practising Licence. Practising licences expire on October 31 of each year. Registered members must renew their Practising Licence and pay the required fees each year.

If you are a graduate of a dental hygiene program or are about to graduate from a dental hygiene program and would like to apply for registration to practice in Nova Scotia, please go to the Registration Forms and Paymentspage and select the application for registration link to start the application process.

You should be aware that practising dental hygiene in Nova Scotia without being registered with the CDHNS and without holding a Practising Licence is a punishable offence under the Dental Hygienists Act.

General Registration Requirements

Following is a brief description of the registration requirements. Contact the CDHNS office: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for additional information on registration requirements. As well, review the Act and Regulations on the Legislative Information page. http://www.cdhns.ca/index.php/members/legislative-information

Education Applicants require a diploma or degree in dental hygiene from an accredited dental hygiene in Canada (or equivalent). Applicants who obtained their dental hygiene education from a non-accredited dental hygiene program, must meet the additional requirements outlined in the section below entitled Graduates of Non-Accredited Programs.

Canadian National Dental Hygiene Certification Board Examination All applicants for registration are required to provide evidence of successful completion of the NDHCB examination. (See below for further information.)

Currency of practice Applicants must meet one of the following:

Completion of a dental hygiene diploma or degree within the 3 years immediately preceding the date the application for registration is received;

Provide evidence of practice as a dental hygienist within the 3 years immediately preceding the date of the application for registration is received; or

Have successfully completed a Council-approved refresher education program within the year immediately preceding the date the application for registration is received.

Jurisprudence Examination All applicants for registration must successfully complete a jurisprudence exam for Nova Scotia which assesses an applicant’s understanding of the legislation, standards of practice, and other matters relevant to the practice of dental hygiene in Nova Scotia. There are two courses (with exams) that meet these criteria — the Jurisprudence Course (JP) for Nova Scotiaor the Self-Initiation (SI) Course for Nova Scotia (exam includes SI and JP exam content). Both are offered as an online course through the CDHA. If you successfully complete the Self-Initiation Course (Nova Scotia), you are not required to complete the separate JP exam. Please contact CDHA directly to register, or for further details on the courses.

Submit a complete application form (available online), including payment of applicable fees

Interview: Applicants are required to meet with the Registrar. This is the last step in the application process. Once a completed application is received, CDHNS will contact the applicant directly to schedule this interview. The purpose of this structured interview is to ensure that newly licencing members understand their professional obligations regarding the practice of dental hygiene in Nova Scotia, including obligations under the Act and Regulations. This interview will highlight Sections 25 through 28 of the Regulations, the Order or Protocol, Appendix A to the Dental Hygiene Regulations (if applicable), the Continuing Competency Program Requirements document, and any other relevant information pertinent to the specific member. During this interview, members are able to ask questions and obtain clarity on any area of the legislation or elements of dental hygiene practice that may be unclear.

Additional requirements include evidence of:

Good Standing in any previous jurisdiction (complete the form provided by CDHNS). Note: This form will be provided as you complete your application for registration.

Good Character

CPR Certification, at the level required by Council taken within the last 12 months. Must include both a classroom instruction and a practical component. See CPR Information and Courses for further details.

“A person who is licensed to practise as a dental hygienist under a non-restricted license issued before July 1, 2001, in a jurisdiction that is a signatory to the Mutual Recognition Agreement is eligible to be registered in the Register upon compliance with clause 3(c) and Section 5.”

An applicant who is currently registered/licensed in the 'Practising' category or equivalent without restrictions, and in good standing, in another Canadian jurisdiction may find it easier to become registered/licensed as a dental hygienist in Nova Scotia.

There are some provinces and territories where there are significant variations in occupational standards between Nova Scotia and those jurisdictions. In these cases, a legitimate objective has been posted by the Nova Scotia Government under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA). Applicants from these jurisdictions may be subject to additional requirements prior to being eligible for registration or licensing in Nova Scotia. For an up-to-date listing of the jurisdiction(s) and the legitimate objective(s), please refer to: http://www.workersmobility.ca/labour-mobility/exceptions/exceptions-by-jurisdiction/

Graduates of Non Accredited ProgramsThe basic qualification for licensure to practice dental hygiene in Nova Scotia is graduation from a dental hygiene program which has been accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada or the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. Graduates of non accredited dental hygiene programs who want to be registered to practice in Nova Scotia will be required to meet all the requirements for registration and meet any additional requirements approved by the Council. This can include acquiring a Certificate of Clinical Competency as defined by the Council. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. directly for further information.

NDHCB Exam The NDHCB examination tests whether an applicant possesses the necessary knowledge, skills, attitude and judgment required for entry-level practice. The NDHCB Candidate Guide provides information on the exam objectives, eligibility criteria, application procedures (including special accomodations for testing), development process, format, content, security measures, scoring and exam review application process. The Candidate Guide is available on the NDHCB website at www.ndhcb.ca The examination is held in May and again in September and January (depending on applicants) at Dalhousie University, Halifax and at a variety of other sites across Canada. A list of examination sites and the deadlines for application to write the examination are posted on the NDHCB website.